Mr. Cumston moved to add some items to the agenda, 2016-16, and Mr. Ratliff added 2016-11 through 2016-15, Mr. Ratliff 2nd, Mr. Daniels 3rd. 2016-11 through 2016-16 will be added to tonight agenda.

7:34 PM Public Hearing is now open for Public Housing Grant

Ms. Evie Cummings from Regional Planning spoke: Each we go through the Block grant process. This is the first public hearing a generalized one tonight. The State this year will have about 56 million dollars that will be distributed around the State. The City and County will receive 75,000. They have a different competitive programs, CHIP Housing, you can get extra money if you join with the County. Town revitalization grant, water and sewer grants. These are project that are available out there. We’d want some feedback from Council and the Citizens. Anybody that has projects, come to Regional Planning by April 7. Looking for 60,000 for the City – 4 projects, 50% on low and moderate income, to be completed in a one year period. They won’t be awarded until about Sept, Oct. of this year, then next year would be completed. The housing we could come up with 300,000 if we team up with the County. Owner occupied home repair, rental rehab, new thing is single project, for rental repair to fix one item to cover code enforcement. Habitat up to 20,000. These funds are available. Mrs. Gustin asked about another County, Evie said it would be Marion County. It could be a village. We could even do septic tanks. There are some septic tanks that are failing in the city.

7:40 pm Public Hearing is now closed

Josh Daniels spoke on Drug Issues: There will be a meeting on March 1, 2016 – Mr. Norris, Ms. Cunningham met with the Chief to speak out a prevention program for 4-6 graders, keeping them out of drug addiction.

Chief Collins spoke: we are in the beginning phases with this. We have a lot of good things in our community, one of them is not teaching our youth on drug use. It’s not one of the situations that you throw money at. We spoke with Jodi Demo Hodgins who is head of ADAMH Board in Marion. We talked about the Heroin problems. They have to make that conscious choice not to try heroin. About 10 years we had DARE doing that. Through Jodi we were able to set up a meeting with March 1, a gentlemen is coming to speak, he is a local expert in Ohio as far as what programs are evidenced-based. They have done stats in what we are trying to deter. We want to make sure we are making a good choice. There is some discussion whether or not the Police should be involved in it. I think it’s going to take a collaboration with different agencies to get that out to our youth. Mrs. Blevins asked where that is going to take place. Chief Collins said the classroom in City Hall.

ORDINANCE 2016-11:

ORDINANCE TO AMEND A COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA (CRA) #1 IN THE CITY OF MARION BY CHANGING ALL TAX EXEMPTION PERIODS FROM 3 YEARS TO 10 YEARS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Mr. Ken Lengieza spoke: this is to increase the DT tax abatement to 10 years, anybody who spends 75,000 for an existing building and 150,000 for a new building. We went to the City School Board, they do support it. The map of DT CRA area, this would expand it from 3 years to 10 years. Mr. Thomas said 75,000 – 1000,000 affects this area. Mr. Lengieza said yes.

ORDINANCE TO AMEND A MODERATE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA #2 IN THE CITY OF MARION BY ADDING TWO SMALL AREAS TO THE EXISTING DISTRICT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Mr. Ratliff said that Mr. Lengieza is here as well. Mr. Lengieza said this was the 2nd change that was adopted by the City School Board for support. Mostly on the older part of the west and north side of town. Include some areas south of Bellefontaine Ave down to Vernon Heights and then some areas on East Church St. This would keep the rest of the terms the same, 10 years. Councilman Daniels was using this for some very nice apartments, this was before he became Commissioner and Council person. Mr. Ratliff said this is successful program. It’s adding some good areas, I’ll make a motion to suspend, Mrs. Gustin 2nd. Roll call: Mr. Cumston, Mr. Ratliff, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blevins, Ms. Cunningham, Mr. Osborn, Mr. Norris, Ms. Gustin; Abstain: Mr. Daniels.

Mr. Ratliff moved to adopt, Mr. Cumston 2nd. Mr. Cumston said this saves us a lot of money, it gives us incentive to reinvest in the DT area. Even though it’s not a lot of money, it gives them incentive. It offers a little bit of assistance. It’s been a success.

ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO PREPARE AND ADVERTISE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL(S) OR FIRM(S) IN ORDER TO DESIGN PROJECTS RELATED TO THE FY 2015 AND 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR THE SUBJECT TO THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE CITY OF MARION AND THE INDIVIDUAL OR FIRM

Mr. Ratliff said came out of Committee with a 3-0 recommendation and Ms. Cummins is here tonight to speak on it.

Ms. Evie Cummings spoke: Some of the project that we had, we have to go outside the City engineer office to get some design expertise. I thought if I went ahead and started to get the qualifications that we need, surveyors, design engineers, landscape architects, and then some specific projects and ask for proposals then we could analyze it and pick out those peoples with those qualifications. I want to start the process, some of things would be a little more complex, I would like to have those qualifications.

Mr. Ratliff asked if we can do it prior to the projects. Evie said we can on the qualifications, you’re allowed to hang onto them for 2 years. The proposals, it would not be at the proposal time yet, for seeking funds. Main Street area, where to start with a little guidance. Mrs. Gustin said that it why there is no Emergency clause on this.

ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE SAFETY DIRECTOR TO PREPARE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, AND ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR THE FY 2015 FORMULA GRANT PROJECTS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Mr. Ratliff stated that this is to move along the project from last year. They are the Lodo sidewalk replacement, Home street brick repair, retaining wall project, the Recreation building roof, I move to suspend, Mr. Osborn, 2nd. Roll call: Ayes all, motion carried.

ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO PREPARE AND ADVERTISE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOUSING INSPECTION SERVICES AND ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OR FIRM IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THE COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP) GRANT, SUBJECT TO THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE CITY OF MARION AND THE INDIVIDUAL OR FIRM, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Mr. Ratliff said this is needed to apply for the CHIP grant. I’ll make a motion to suspend, Mrs. Gustin 2nd, Roll call: Ayes all motion carried.

Mrs. Cummings said this is just to prove that we have somebody on hand with lead inspections, just to find the most qualified person or firm; then we finalize the grant.

ORDINANCE MAKING AN APPROPRIATION IN THE GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE FOR WATER TESTING BY CITY RESIDENTS AT THEIR TAPS OF THE AQUA OHIO WATER PRODUCT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2016

Mr. Thomas said by the next meeting, we’ll have a formal heading. Mr. Cumston said this came out of Finance with a 2-0 recommendation, we’re asking for a 1st reading tonight.

Mr. Thomas asked Mr. Ballenger to have the notices of lead testing for Council.

Sulu Kelley 365 E. Farming – are you going to get permission from landlords to do this testing? You don’t have any idea how to format the program. Mr. Daniels said we didn’t work anything out. Mr. Thomas said that this why we are having 3 readings. If and how we are going to do this. Mr. Ratliff asked about how we are going to proceed. Have we worked with the water company? I’m not sure if this is starting out the correct way. If the water company is taking samples from someone’s tap and sending it Alloway. If we do the same thing, what happens if we have a test that comes back that we don’t like. We go to Aqua, they have done all the testing required by the EPA, what do they say, what do we say at that point. Move better to with a proper plan as a community, rather than do it independently. I think we’d be in the blind, we are not a water company, I don’t think any of us would know about the mechanics of water and what it takes to run a water company. I have seen no problems of the Chloramine. To act on the process of Flint MI, I don’t see a positive result on this at all.

Mrs. Gustin said the meeting will help us think this all through and make the logical steps to make, not in one evening. We do need to think it through. Mr. Daniels said Mr. Ratliff made a point, we are not water experts. One representatives that gives us a fact or opinion that our conditions are not like Flint MI, we have no way to tell. We are looking to install up to 5000 to build faith in a water supply or identify problems that may exist. We are doing it blindly, we don’t know if they have plastic lines, lead lines. If we pick a house with a lead line, it probably be with the service line. None of these results are going to be pitched out on the table without testing those homes. I hope none come back. 2 years ago I supported the addition of chloramine, I’ll tell you today, I don’t have faith 2 years ago, I built a new home and trenched a new water line, I don’t use it now. I had tenants call me up with dirty water samples, boiler systems with an item that I’ve never seen a greasy white resin. It shouldn’t be there. It’s now in Sebring Ohio, It’s now in Virginia, there are several areas and it’s continuing to grow. I’d like to have that confidence to drink the city water, but not the way I see it today.

Mr. Osborn stated that is not everybody perspective. Not to scare people that is provided by Aqua. The water is fine. Mr. Norris said I’d send it out to the citizens of Marion and let them decide, the voice of the people. Mr. Cumston said this process is invigorating, we’ll educate the people and ourselves.

Mr. Scott Ballenger of Aqua the 90 samples is where it all started. Since then houses torn down, moved out, changed the plumbing. We had to add other houses on the list. These places are with known lead lines. All Aqua does, pick up the sample bottle and take it to Alloway. Mr. Thomas said as we move through Council, we are going to determine the process, how we take the samples, where they are coming from. Mr. Daniels said the process is the way it’s supposed to be.

Mr. Tom Quade, Marion Public Health stated in terms of the designing of the plans; health dept. would like to be part of the process. I’d like to remind folks the #1risk is the lead base paint in houses built before 1978. I’ll encourage folks to get the kids screened. I drink the tap water, I’m ok with that.

Mr. Sulu Kelley 365 E. Farming spoke: this proposal was 1000 in testing, 100 houses, and how many households in Marion? 12,000. 1 out of 120. I don’t think that everybody would think that everyone could get a test. It would be limited.

ORDINANCE 2016-16 HAS HAD ITS 1ST READING

Mr. Thomas said a reminder: on the 16th will have the 3rd reading and public hearing on the rezoning of the Marion Catholic School project.

Items not on the Agenda:

Mr. Tom Robbins said this weekend is the Valentines Weekend. OSUM is taken on a project – it’s a loving scarfs campaign project. Anonymous donations for gloves, scarves and hats, and place it throughout the community. Hanging them from trees by the library, Lincoln Park. They are free for anybody who’d like to pick them up.

COMMITTEE DATES:

Finance 2/16 @ 6:30 pm

Municipal Services 2/16 @ 6:45 pm Residency requirements

Regional Planning 2/25 @ 7:00 pm County Building

Zoning & Annexation 2/16 @ 6:35 pm Kroger Store parcel of land

With no further business to come before Council, Mr. Thomas adjourned the meeting.